I think I need a splitter.....opinions please!

Heck, using this logic you may as well just pay a gas or oil bill at that point...
If you spend $800 on firewood, it just gets burnt up and all you got was some heat.
Now spending $800 on a splitter on the other hand, you get years of service out of it (years of heat...and some fun if you enjoy working up wood...which is more fun with hydraulics) and then you still have an asset that can be sold...sometimes for not much less than what you paid for it brand new, especially at $799!

Good ideas too...those lil electric machine work great as long as you aren't splitting huge stuff.
And FYI, keep an eye out, Menards usually has some pretty good splitter deals on BF.

Use hydraulic system thread sealer...and then let it set for a day or two before using the splitter. There are tons of good options out there for this...surely a store near you has some in stock. Personally I've had good luck with Loctite 545

 

Yeah, kinda like the old give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish……….
The splitter will always have a residual value as well.

 

Thanks for all of the replies !
Let me address some of the comments all in one post. I understand the opinions base on only burning 1-2 cords a year does not necessarily justify a purchase like this but as several mentioned, it is an asset that will hold value for a long time.
I easily have the means to make the purchase and hopefully in about 3-4 years I am planning to relocate to Northern Michigan so the splitter will see a lot more use. I have been watching CL but not seeing much there. I am leaning towards the Yardmax unit based on price but not afraid to spend a little more if there is a significant difference in value.

 

If you rent a splitter you will be doing a marathon splitting session, bustin your butt.
If you own it, you go out there and split when you have the time or you get the urge, and quit when you get tired.
An electric splitter will do the job too, that's all I had for 4 years and I didn't pass up any big wood, if you are not hand splitting all the time, busting some down to manageable size with Sledge and wedge is not so bad, or you can noodle them.
If you go shopping for a different gas splitter it is going to be hard to beat that 799 deal, I paid 700 bucks for my three-year-old Huskee, it was in great shape and not use much but still, brand new with a warranty for a 100 more
If you're serious about getting one, my guess is you're ready to pull the trigger right away

 

I was typing when you posted
You wanted opinions and you got them
It's good to have different opinions and ideas thrown out there.

 

I very much appreciate all of the opinions, just wanted to add a little more info. I value the opinions of those with a little more experience than me.
I have been cutting and splitting for close to 35 years, I don't see myself stopping soon, just afraid the body isn't as willing as the mind.

 

I know you do, I'm just flapping my jaw thinking out loud.
Hey you are 50, I think it's smart to start thinking about taking it easy on the old body, processing firewood isn't easy even with hydraulics

 

After watching the Yardmax video, I wouldn't buy one

Why? Ergonomics!!!

Go back and watch the first twenty five seconds of the video.
He changes from vertical to horizontal then goes to the pile to get a log.
When he returns he steps behind the axle to place the log on the splitter beam, then has to step back and around the axle and step in front of the axle to run the valve.
He is also standing one foot in front of the other. Too awkward!

The ergonomics are not good there!

 

Daggummit T! Now you gone and made me wanna watch the video and I just don't have the data left for watchin vids!

 

I don't think there's any reason for him to be doing what he is doing, I think it is just the operator

 

Maybe you're right, let's compare








I don't know, you be the judge, how much space between the tank tires and tail end

 

That is why I like the ariens/ gravley splitters. The axle is farther forward leaving more room for the operator. The HF splitter has plenty of room too

 

I am getting older myself and must say that it sucks but if you are passing up wood because of the splitting effort it would take, you are ready for a splitter. At one or two cords a year you do not need speed or fancy features. As long as both splitters can handle most of what you come across, I would go with price. I am a young 69 and have no trouble hand splitting so I am probably missing the fine points of a splitter. I think hand splitting and similar efforts are keeping me young.

 

Does anyone make a hydraulic splitter with an electric motor rather than gas engine? At one to two cords/year, the motor is going to be sitting unused a lot and small gas engines tend not to like that.

 

Yes. They are nice and small.
I think its harbor freight?

 

22 ton is plenty if it will save you some money, my 22 ton DHT tears through everything I have thrown at it. It is the kind of purchase that once you spring for it you will wish you did it years ago.

 

Ramsplitter HV16-4 16-Ton Horizontal / Vertical Electric Log Splitter

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk

 

jdude Did ya buy one yet